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Transparency information

INTRODUCTION

Birkbeck is publishing this ‘Transparency information’ under guidance from the Office for Students. This is degree attainment (i.e. the classification of degree achieved) by students studying at Birkbeck.

This information appears in the tables below.  There is also a link to a spreadsheet containing more detailed information. 

THE BIRKBECK CONTEXT

  • Birkbeck, University of London is an evening university, predominantly delivering teaching from 6pm to 9pm, retaining our historic mission to educate working Londoners. We are proud to be a university that opens its doors to people who may otherwise not be able to study.
  • We have maintained our commitment to enabling access for mature students, while also diversifying and increasing the number of younger students, through our full-time undergraduate evening degrees. We continue to be a widening access institution and a significant voice for the high proportion of our students coming from underrepresented groups. We remain committed to driving this agenda in the higher education sector.
  • The transparency information on attainment shows that, in common with the university sector as a whole, there are significant gaps in attainment between students from different backgrounds. At Birkbeck, these gaps in attainment have narrowed in recent years. Closing them further is a strategic priority for us and our plans to address this are outlined in our Access and Participation Plan.
  • We have conducted an extensive research project into factors associated with academic performance at Birkbeck and are implementing an action plan to further reduce gaps in attainment between student groups.
  • The transparency information on admissions shows that Birkbeck students reflect London itself, with around half our undergraduate students coming from BAME backgrounds, and more than half coming from relatively socially-deprived backgrounds.

ADVICE FROM THE OFFICE FOR STUDENTS

  • The information published on this page shows the number of students who attained a particular degree or other academic award, or a particular level of such an award, on completion of their course with us.
  • It also shows these numbers by reference to:
    • the gender of the individuals to which they relate
    • their ethnicity
    • their socioeconomic background.
  • It is important to note that the data presented has not been contextualised. This means, for example, that you will not be able to see from this data how many of those applying to courses met the entry criteria. It is also the case that universities and colleges will often receive many more applications than they have spaces on courses, and so offer rates will necessarily be lower than application rates in those circumstances.

TRANSPARENCY INFORMATION 2023

ATTAINMENT OF 2021-22 QUALIFIERS

Provider: Birkbeck College

UKPRN: 10007760

Table 1a: Percentage of classified first degrees at grade 2:1 or above by characteristic for 2021-22 qualifiers

CharacteristicCharacteristic splitPercentage
EthnicityEthnic minorities62%
White82%
EIMD 2019 quintile1 and 267%
3 to 575%
SexFemale75%
Male65%
OtherN

Table 1b: Detailed information on attainment for 2021-22 qualifiers

Full-time students

CharacteristicCharacteristic splitHead count of classified First Degrees awardedPercentage of First Degrees awarded as first classPercentage of First Degrees awarded as upper second classPercentage of First Degrees awarded as lower second classPercentage of First Degrees awarded as third class/passHeadcount of other undergraduate awards
EthnicityAsian9015%50%30%5%N
Black9015%30%50%5%N
Mixed5025%45%25%5%N
White26035%45%15%5%30
Other3020%40%40%DPN
Unknown5015%35%25%25%50
EIMD 2019 quintile111025%30%35%10%N
219020%45%25%5%40
312020%40%30%5%30
49025%55%15%5%N
54030%40%25%DPN
N/ANNNNNN
UnknownNNNNNN
SexFemale33024%48%24%4%50
Male24023%38%30%9%70
OtherNNNNNN

Part-time students

CharacteristicCharacteristic splitHeadcount of classified First Degrees awardedPercentage of First Degrees awarded as first classPercentage of First Degrees awarded as upper second classPercentage of First Degrees awarded as lower second classPercentage of First Degrees awarded as third class/passHeadcount of other undergraduate awards
EthnicityAsian5035%30%30%DP40
Black4025%45%25%5%30
Mixed3025%35%25%15%30
White18045%40%15%0%210
OtherNNNNNN
UnknownNNNNN120
EIMD 2019 quintile15035%35%25%5%50
211030%40%25%5%140
39035%40%15%10%100
45045%40%15%DP70
53055%35%10%DP70
N/ANNNNNN
UnknownNNNNNN
GenderFemale17039%43%14%5%280
Male16033%37%25%5%160
OtherNNNNNN

Note: There were no unclassified degrees awarded, or apprenticeship students among 2021-22 qualifiers at Birkbeck.

Key

  • N/A: No provision in a given mode and level
  • N: 20 or fewer students in this population
  • DP: Data suppressed for data protection reasons

For full details, please see the 'Rounding and suppression' tab of the full data spreadsheet.